Petroleum Act 1936

The holder of a license to prospect shall, subject to this Act and the regulations —

within 6 months from the date of the granting of the license to prospect, or within such further time as the Minister may allow, commence and thereafter carry out a detailed geological survey of the area of land in respect of which the license was granted, and also perform and carry out such other operations upon the said area as the Minister may reasonably require; and

keep an adequate record of all surveys made and all operations conducted, collect geological specimens of outcrops, fossils, rocks, and materials encountered, take all reasonable precautions to ensure that all such materials and records shall be clearly and permanently labelled and stored in such a way as to prevent deterioration or loss thereof, and shall at all reasonable times allow the Minister or any person authorised by the Minister or the Under Secretary for Mines to enter upon the said area of land to inspect the operations then being conducted thereon and to examine and inspect the said records and materials; and

furnish to the Minister on the prescribed form within 30 days after the end of each month a written report giving particulars of the work done during such month;

immediately and firstly inform the Minister of the occurrence of any petroleum encountered during the course of any drilling operations on the land in respect of which the license is granted;

immediately furnish to the Minister in writing full details of —

the composition and physical properties of the petroleum encountered during the course of any drilling operations on the land in respect of which the license is granted;

the nature and extent of the oil bearing formation so encountered and its geological age.

The holder of a license to prospect shall not undertake any drilling operations or drill any test well without the consent in writing of the Minister, which consent shall not be reasonably withheld. The equipment, materials and technique to be used in such drilling shall be in conformity with recognized oilfield practice.